James O'Brien

Hockey Daily Dose

Hiller enjoys the view

It’s hard not to giggle a bit when someone prattles on about “East Coast bias,” but not for the reason you might expect. The complaints aren’t amusing because they’re wrong; instead, they’re kinda funny because they’re right yet wrong-minded at the same point.

By my account, it’s not all about “West Coast bias.” Instead, it really comes down to human nature.

Simply put, if you work, take care of children or really do anything half-productive before a typical NHL schedule begins at the 7 or 7:30 p.m. ET mark each day, it’s kind of tough to maintain the same amount of energy and attention for a late game that stretches to around 1 a.m.

If you ask me, “East Coast bias” should actually be called “reasonable human sleep expectations.” Sorry, people in California, there isn’t a conspiracy against your teams … there just isn’t enough caffeine to keep every soul awake to properly judge your squads to the ones who end their games close to the time you start your contests.

KING OF THE HILLER

Luckily, that sleep-eyed stuff affects some of us a little less than others, so I was able to pick up on something last night: the Anaheim Ducks’ No. 1 job is Jonas Hiller’s again. At least for the time being.

The evidence is pretty undeniable at this point. The Ducks have played 11 (mostly successful) games in March. Hiller has played in eight of them while once-red-hot usurper-in-training* Viktor Fasth cleaned up the remaining three starts.

On one hand, it’s a great story. Hiller has overcome a lot over the last couple years, particularly the vertigo-like problems from before. It would have been easy for him to pout when early struggles, Fasth’s impressive start and injuries caused him issues.

FASTH BECOMING IRRELEVANT

Still, as heartwarming a story as Hiller’s resiliency can be, it’s a bummer for Fasth.

I mean, sure, one can hold back a few tears because he received a nice payout, but still … it’s not like the 30-year-old “rookie” has fallen off the map since signing a two-year, $5.8 million extension. He’s gone 3-1-1 after that 8-0-0 start while his overall stats remain stellar (.927 save percentage and 2.00 GAA).

Fair or not, it’s clear that Hiller’s running with the renewed opportunity to be the just-about unquestioned starter. Holding strong enough for the Ducks to beat the Chicago Blackhawks in a showdown between the top teams in the West (and probably the NHL) won’t hurt Hiller’s cause (or help Fasth get back in the net much more), either.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s quite possible that the pendulum might swing back the other way this season. Still, I cannot help but hope that you sold high on the Swedish backup Fasth.

Jump for some thoughts on Wednesday’s games.

* Hyphens are the best.

It’s hard not to giggle a bit when someone prattles on about “East Coast bias,” but not for the reason you might expect. The complaints aren’t amusing because they’re wrong; instead, they’re kinda funny because they’re right yet wrong-minded at the same point.

By my account, it’s not all about “West Coast bias.” Instead, it really comes down to human nature.

Simply put, if you work, take care of children or really do anything half-productive before a typical NHL schedule begins at the 7 or 7:30 p.m. ET mark each day, it’s kind of tough to maintain the same amount of energy and attention for a late game that stretches to around 1 a.m.

If you ask me, “East Coast bias” should actually be called “reasonable human sleep expectations.” Sorry, people in California, there isn’t a conspiracy against your teams … there just isn’t enough caffeine to keep every soul awake to properly judge your squads to the ones who end their games close to the time you start your contests.

KING OF THE HILLER

Luckily, that sleep-eyed stuff affects some of us a little less than others, so I was able to pick up on something last night: the Anaheim Ducks’ No. 1 job is Jonas Hiller’s again. At least for the time being.

The evidence is pretty undeniable at this point. The Ducks have played 11 (mostly successful) games in March. Hiller has played in eight of them while once-red-hot usurper-in-training* Viktor Fasth cleaned up the remaining three starts.

On one hand, it’s a great story. Hiller has overcome a lot over the last couple years, particularly the vertigo-like problems from before. It would have been easy for him to pout when early struggles, Fasth’s impressive start and injuries caused him issues.

FASTH BECOMING IRRELEVANT

Still, as heartwarming a story as Hiller’s resiliency can be, it’s a bummer for Fasth.

I mean, sure, one can hold back a few tears because he received a nice payout, but still … it’s not like the 30-year-old “rookie” has fallen off the map since signing a two-year, $5.8 million extension. He’s gone 3-1-1 after that 8-0-0 start while his overall stats remain stellar (.927 save percentage and 2.00 GAA).

Fair or not, it’s clear that Hiller’s running with the renewed opportunity to be the just-about unquestioned starter. Holding strong enough for the Ducks to beat the Chicago Blackhawks in a showdown between the top teams in the West (and probably the NHL) won’t hurt Hiller’s cause (or help Fasth get back in the net much more), either.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s quite possible that the pendulum might swing back the other way this season. Still, I cannot help but hope that you sold high on the Swedish backup Fasth.

Jump for some thoughts on Wednesday’s games.

* Hyphens are the best.

Here’s some analysis from a player per game from Wednesday.

REVISITING RYAN O’REILLY

I must admit that I wasn’t exactly a huge proponent of Ryan O’Reilly, at least from a fantasy standpoint, after his awkward contract impasse was finally settled with the Colorado Avalanche.

While he’s been a darling of stats-minded hockey observers for a while now, the two-way center is showing signs of being more useful in the obvious categories that make a player a greater asset in the fantasy realm.

Most obviously, he's scoring points. After shaking off the rust with zero points in his first two games, O'Reilly is now averaging a point-per-game in his last eight (three goals and five assists for eight points overall). He's getting nice ice time and, most positively, is firing a nice amount of shots on goal. He has 37 in his 10 games so far, averaging 3.7 per game, the kind of clip that portends good things.

While he still isn't a peripheral demon (just a minor penalty so far, never more than 18 PIM in his career), he makes plenty of sense as a fringe center in deeper leagues.

GAGNER GARNERS GRATITUDE

While the Edmonton Oilers have drawn a lot of attention by compiling three consecutive No.1 overall picks, it’s other high-end youngsters who are really drawing attention. As it turns out, Jordan Eberle and Justin Schultz aren’t alone in that area.

It’s hard to believe that Sam Gagner was the sixth pick of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft because he fell out of the hockey consciousness for a while there - maybe until he seemingly changed his career around with that historic eight-point game from last season.

Gagner has 28 points in 29 games in 2013, with a five-game point streak (five goals, two assists for seven points) going. His 19 PIM are a nice cherry on top, too.

One wonders how he figures into Edmonton’s long-term plans because he’s a restricted free agent in the summer. Will management consider him expendable compared to the Taylor Halls of the world or will his impressive turnaround since that historic night cement him as a core player?

I’m not certain of either scenario, yet I do know that he’s been a boon for those who drafted him or snagged him as a fantasy free agent.

SETOGUCHI SEEMS SET

While I’d never claim that Devin Setoguchi was a star in the making, I was also puzzled to see him become a borderline healthy scratch for the Minnesota Wild. He simply showed too many flashes of brilliance with the San Jose Sharks to watch games in street clothes.

All of a sudden, he’s looking like a beyond-viable fantasy option; it’s almost as if his successes and failures have paralleled the suddenly hot team.

It seems like he’s really taken off alongside (contract year guy) Matt Cullen. Just look at the monthly breakdown of his production to see how things have picked up lately:

January:

Seven GP

Zero goals, two assists for two points (even plus/minus)

February:

12 GP

Three goals, four assists for seven points (even plus/minus)

March:

10 GP

Eight goals, three assists for 11 points (+9)

He's currently on a five-game point streak (six goals, two assists) and has one other five-game streak (two goals, four assists) already. Maybe Setoguchi isn’t primed to be a permanent fixture, but he’s worth considering for right now.

KADRI’S FOR REAL?

Maybe the great ride will end at some point, but the sample size keeps growing to strengthen the argument that Nazem Kadri is a legitimate scorer. After being held pointless for three straight games, Kadri collected five assists over his last two games to point him to 30 points in 30 games.

I’m not crazy about his mediocre shot total (61 SOG in 30 GP), but you have to love that +16 rating and those 19 PIM. I’m sold, at least in the scheme of 2013.